Prepare - StrathAyr

Preparing your turf

So you’ve ordered your turf, now it’s time to prep your area! But before you start planning your dream backyard barbecue, take the time to read our how-to guide on preparing and laying your turf.

Follow these instructions step-by-step and you’ll be on your way to a luscious lawn in no time.

Step 1

Clear The Area
It might seem like an obvious place to start, but ensuring you have a clean space to work with is critical, then you can start by removing weeds. Whether it is by hand or with a glyphosate herbicide spray, such as Roundup, ensuring your surface is weed-free will go a long way to ensuring that your turf is laid on a happy and healthy foundation!

If couch grass or kikuyu grass is present in the area, spray it with a group B herbicide such as Brassoff. Wait approximately 7-10 days until the weeds die and respray residual weeds as necessary. Remove all debris including any small rocks or twigs. If you’re removing an existing lawn and replacing it with a new variety, consider hiring a turf cutter for large areas. Alternatively, use a sharp spade to remove any traces of existing grass.
Step 2
Cultivate The Area
Rome was not built in a day, and your dream lawn can’t be either. Using a rotary hoe or garden fork, thoroughly cultivate the soil to an approximate 150mm depth, removing any rocks or sticks as you dig. This is also the stage to add Dolomite Lime to correct soil PH levels and Gypsum to break up clay soil.

Step 2
Step 3

Incorporate a Good Quality Top Soil
An important step is ensuring that you have good quality top soil. A good place to start is by incorporating a sandy loam underlay soil. Spread it to a depth of 100-150mm, depending on your site’s soil.

REMINDER: For every 10m² of turf, order 1m³ of top soil.

If you’re using organic composts such as manure, ensure it is well composted. Level off your soil with a rake and then compact it by watering the surface. Ensure finished turf sits 75mm below weep holes.
Step 4
Measure Your Space & Order Your Turf
And now the real fun begins! Measure up your turf area before marking the dimensions of each section on a sketch pad. Use the StrathAyr turf calculator to help work out how much turf you need. You can order your turf online here or by contacting our sales office on 1800 622 455.

Step 4
Step 5

Apply Lawn Starter
Before you get too excited, be sure to evenly apply a pre-plant (starter) lawn fertiliser at the recommended rate prior to installing your turf. StrathAyr provides lawn starter free of charge with turf orders over 10m² in Victoria (not available in Tasmania).

HANDY TIP: Applying this lawn fertiliser will give your lawn sufficient nutrients for the first 4-6 weeks.
Step 6
Lay The Turf
So, everything is prepared and ready. Your soil is in perfect condition and your turf has been delivered. Now it’s time to lay your lawn! Freshly harvested at our turf farm and delivered to you, StrathAyr provides turf in perfect, ready-to-install condition. Once you receive your turf, lay it immediately to avoid drying out or overheating the turf. We suggest laying the turf in a brick work pattern, so start from a straight edge such as driveway or paving, ensuring the edges fit snugly together. Fold turf slabs when moving them to avoid damage. Alternatively, use a wheelbarrow to move the slabs to your desired area.

Step 6
And voila!

Water deeply and consistently until the roots have established and the turf slabs can no longer be lifted. By following these easy steps, you’ll be on your way to your dream lawn in no time!

Calculate your lawn area

Calculating the size and area of your lawn is an important step in the process. While lawns often come in all shapes and sizes, determining your turf area is easy with our Turf Calculator!

Sketch our your lawn
On to the drawing board as they say!
Break your shape into areas similar to the diagram above.
This way, you’ll ensure each area is comprehensively covered.
Use a measuring tape, determine the dimensions of each section of lawn.
And don’t forget to write them down!
Add the measurements into our handy calculator by clicking the button below.
And now, it’s time to turf!

GET STARTED